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March 14 Officials Hold Consultative Meeting on Hizbullah Role in Syria

March 14 alliance leaders held a consultative meeting on Thursday night to discuss a memo they plan to refer to President Michel Suleiman on Hizbullah's involvement in Syria's war, An Nahar daily reported.

The newspaper said Friday that the memo had received the final approval of all parties that make up the March 14 coalition.

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Reports: Jumblat Met Salam, Government Formation Deadlock Focus of Discussions

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat discussed the latest government and security developments in Lebanon during his meeting with PM-designate Tammam Salam late Wednesday, highlighting the necessity to form a cabinet that includes all Lebanese factions including Hizbullah.

Discussions between the two men focused on the various stages of the consultation process that kicked off in March between Salam and the different Lebanese parties in a bid to line up a cabinet. They focused on the conflicting stances that obstructed Salam, so far, from forming the new government, informed sources told al-Joumhouria daily.

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Sources: Lebanon Sends 'Memo' to U.N., Files 'Complaint' with Arab League over Syria Attacks

Lebanese authorities have sent a “memo” to the U.N. Security Council on Syrian air raids and rocket attacks and “filed a complaint” with the Arab League over the assaults carried out by Syrian regime troops and the rebel Free Syrian Army, government sources said Friday.

The sources told An Nahar daily that the two moves were made on Thursday night after reports that President Michel Suleiman and caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour had argued on what measures to take.

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Franjieh: Suleiman Making Promises to West, Resistance Has Right to Intervene in Syria

Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh on Thursday accused President Michel Suleiman of “making promises to the West,” stressing that Hizbullah “has the right to intervene in Syria” militarily.

“The president turned against the March 8 camp and when we reached a juncture, he made his choices, and here we raise a question: why did all these countries cling to him? Is he the 'Bismarck of Lebanon' or did he make promises to the West and endorsed their policies?” Franjieh said during an interview with LBCI television.

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Gemayel: Suleiman Assumes Responsibilities amid State's Paralysis, Hizbullah Arms Hinder Its Establishment

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel stated on Thursday that President Michel Suleiman “assumes all responsibilities amid the paralysis in the official institutions,” considering that the spread of weapons with militias is the “main obstacle for the establishment of the state.”

"Suleiman took the oath to assume his responsibilities and he represents Lebanon in all international forums and thus, he should bear all responsibilities amid the current paralysis of the state,” Gemayel said at a ceremony at the party's office in Beirut's Ashrafieh neighborhood.

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Muallem Sends Memo to Mansour, Urges Lebanese Army to 'Control Border'

Damascus on Thursday called on the Lebanese army to "control the border to preserve security and stability," in the wake of Wednesday's Syrian air raid on the Bekaa border town of Arsal.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said he received a memo from Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem about the situation on the border between the two countries.

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Hariri: Hizbullah Has Ruined Fraternal Ties among Lebanese People

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri lamented on Thursday Hizbullah's fighting in Syria, which has ruined “the fraternal ties among the Lebanese people, especially between Sunnis and Shiites.”

He said in an address to the Lebanese people: “Lebanon needs, now more than ever, the word of truth against the oppressive arms.”

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Iran Says Hizbullah Fighting 'Enemies' Plans' in Syria

Iran on Thursday expressed that Hizbullah's involvement in the Syrian war is a defense against “the enemies' plans,” stressing that the party does not interfere in “sectarian conflicts.”

"All the Islamic world respects and values Hizbullah for its fight against the enemies of Islam, particularly against the Zionists,” Iranian foreign ministry's spokesperson Abbas Araqji said, explaining that the party's “procedures in defending Syria aim at facing the enemies' plans.”

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France 'Strongly Condemns' Syria Attack on Arsal: Threatening Civil Peace in Lebanon is Unacceptable

France condemned on Thursday the latest Syrian attack on the eastern town of Arsal, slamming “attempts to threaten civil peace in Lebanon as unacceptable.”

"France strongly condemns the raids on Arsal and we consider it a violation of Lebanese sovereignty,” said French foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot.

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Beirut First Investigative Judge Wraps Up Probe in al-Madina Bank Case

Beirut First Investigative Judge Ghassan Oueidat on Thursday concluded the investigation into the al-Madina Bank case, wrapping up a several-year probe.

Oueidat started preparing to refer the long-running case to the public prosecution, state-run National News Agency reported.

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